Does Google recommend working with SEO companies?

1. Be wary of SEO firms that send an email to you out of the blue.
   Even Google receives this kind of spam email. This is a common way for unethical SEO companies to market themselves and should be viewed with a skeptical eye.
   

2.    No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.

If the SEO service you are considering claims to guarantee a top ranking on Google or purports to have a "special relationship" with Google, it is not true. Google has no "priority submit" service and maintains no special relationship with any search engine optimization service.

3.    Be careful if a company’s representatives are secretive or won't clearly explain what they will do for you.
If something is unclear, don't be afraid to speak up and ask for clarification. If a company is reluctant to explain exactly what they will do to optimize your site, it's likely that they will use deceptive techniques like doorway pages or "throwaway" domains, which could end up getting your site banned from Google.

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Natural Search Marketing vs.
Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising (also known as paid search marketing and appears in the column down the right side of the screen) may seem like a quick way to garner more exposure for your website. However, did you know that natural search results—the main list of results that appears after a user types in a search term—pull 250% more traffic than PPC ads? EyeTools.com conducted research using special eye movement tracking devices and found that the vast majority of users scan the entire first page of Google search results far more thoroughly than even the top, most expensive PPC ads. Furthermore, research firms have found that visitors from natural search results convert nearly 30% higher than those from paid search (PPC) results.

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